Fans lured to fake Vallejo cafe thanks to ‘13 Reasons Why’

Trudy Thompson, far left, daughter Jianna Thompson, far right, and Lehua Alvarez take a selfie in front of Monet’s Cafe, site of filming this week for season two of ‘13 Reasons Why.’
RICH FREEDMAN —TIMES-HERALD

It’s every day. Or close to it. They typically travel in pairs. Maybe three or four. Whispering, trying to peer in to see something recognizable, followed by the inevitable selfie.

A hit Netflix series has done that for “13 Reasons Why.” And, though the fictitious Monet’s Cafe on the 400 block of Virginia Street in Vallejo isn’t the program’s focus, it hosts some memorable scenes.

And for the rabid fan, that’s enough. Just ask Lehua Alvarez, 35, who said she would have travelled this far from Hawaii to snap some photos of the cafe even if her friend, Trudy Thompson, didn’t live in Vacaville.

“We’re big fans of the show,” said Alvarez, thrilled that her 17-year-old son back on the big island will be envious of his mom’s vacation destination.

“I’m going to show my teen the pictures like ‘Ha, ha, ha, I got to see the film setting and you didn’t,’” Alvarez said.

It was Wednesday when Alvarez, Thompson, and Thompson’s daughter Jianna Thompson spent a few minutes at Monet’s and around the corner on Georgia Street where Baker’s Drugs and the Crestmont Theatre, two other site locations for “13 Reasons Why” — which, coincidentally, returned to downtown Vallejo for shooting this past Thursday through Saturday for season No. 2.

“We’re very excited about it. Last season, they left a cliff hanger. There’s a lot of open endings,” Alvarez said. “Hopefully, after this, they’ll finish it up.”

Created by Brian Yorkey, “13 Reasons Why” is based on the book by Jay Asher. The Netflix program follows Clay Jensen in his quest to uncover the story behind Hannah Baker’s suicide. The first season included all that is seen as teen angst — girls fighting for a boy, alcohol-binging parties, parental-child upheaval.

“I actually read the book when my son was in high school. It was really boring,” Alvarez said. “And then I saw the show and it was, ‘It’s not boring any more.’ They really jazzed it up. I feel it gives a deeper look into teens — how they take things too seriously or bringing drama upon themselves.”

Alvarez said she’s used the program “as a teaching tool” for her own teenager.

“How you can put yourself in a bad situation and these things can happen to you,” she said.

Thompson, a Vacaville teacher, said she hasn’t watched “13 Reasons” but supports her daughter’s viewing of the show which has drawn praise and criticism for its subject matter.

“13 Reasons Why” apparently has Canada fuming after some schools have started warning parents about the graphic nature of the young adult adaptation, despite the show’s messages regarding bullying and suicide prevention.

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St. Vincent Elementary School in Edmonton, Alberta, sent an email to the parents of sixth graders letting them know their students were prohibited from even mentioning the show on school grounds.